Cynthia McKinney: "Impeachment is on the Table"

[reprehensor]

From Washington's newest paper, The Rock Creek Free Press;

Page 3

Impeachment is on the Table

Cynthia McKinney

"George W. Bush has given us an Administration of superlatives. Those who tell us that impeachment is “off the table” want those superlatives to continue because impeachment is the one sure way to stop them. In the end, we are forced to conclude that for those in power, impeachment just makes no cents (sic)...

...In utter and complete disregard for human decency, let alone its responsibility to save the lives of American citizens, the Bush Administration failed miserably on and after September 11th and again during and after Hurricane Katrina. If September 11th was a “failure of imagination” (as the 9/11 Commission termed Administration failures) and Hurricane Katrina was a “failure of initiative,” (as the House Select Committee on Katrina labeled Administration failures) then the American people can’t
survive another Bush failure. The American people need impeachment instead. By taking impeachment off the table, the Democrats reward phenomenal failure, incompetence, and recklessness, contempt for American law and the Constitution...

...George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Condoleezza Rice have helped to engulf the world in war. Not only have they ravaged the United States, but the entire global community suffers every day they are in power.

Failure to impeach gives solace to those in the Bush Administration who sully the good name of our country and who take advantage of the goodness of the American people. For those who tell us that Impeachment is off the table, I ask “Whose side are you on? War is a racket, and there is no profit in peace! But I and millions of others still sing the songs of peace.” Unfortunately, the George W. Bush Administration will continue its assault on the values, pocketbooks, and the Constitution of the American people if it remains unstopped by Congressional action on impeachment.

I say . . . IMPEACHMENT NOW!"

[Greeby]

1. Yeah, now that you're out of Congress again

Forget about demanding it while you were there :eyes:

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. She DID call for Impeachment....after she lost the election, but this was on the House floor:

McKinney's Full Remarks on Bush Impeachment Bill



Mr. Speaker:
I come before this body today as a proud American and as a servant of the American people, sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Throughout my tenure, I've always tried to speak the truth. It's that commitment that brings me here today.

We have a President who has misgoverned and a Congress that has refused to hold him accountable. It is a grave situation and I believe the stakes for our country are high.

No American is above the law, and if we allow a President to violate, at the most basic and fundamental level, the trust of the people and then continue to govern, without a process for holding him accountable, what does that say about our commitment to the truth? To the Constitution? To our democracy?

The trust of the American people has been broken. And a process must be undertaken to repair this trust. This process must begin with honesty and accountability.

Leading up to our invasion of Iraq, the American people supported this Administration's actions because they believed in our President. They believed he was acting in good faith. They believed that American laws and American values would be respected. That in the weightiness of everything being considered, two values were rock solid: trust and truth.

From mushroom clouds to African yellowcake to aluminum tubes, the American people and this Congress were not presented the facts, but rather were presented a string of untruths, to justify the invasion of Iraq.

President Bush, along with Vice President Cheney and then-National Security Advisor Rice, portrayed to the Congress and to the American people that Iraq represented an imminent threat, culminating with President Bush's claim that Iraq was six months away from developing a nuclear weapon. Having used false fear to buy consent, the President then took our country to war.

This has grave consequences for the health of our democracy, for our standing with our allies, and most of all, for the lives of our men and women in the military and their families-who have been asked to make sacrifices-including the ultimate sacrifice-to keep us safe.

Just as we expect our leaders to be truthful, we expect them to abide by the law and respect our courts and judges. Here again, the President failed the American people.

When President Bush signed an executive order authorizing unlawful spying on American citizens, he circumvented the courts, the law, and he violated the separation of powers provided by the Constitution. Once the program was revealed, he then tried to hide the scope of his offense from the American people by making contradictory, untrue statements.

President George W. Bush has failed to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States; he has failed to ensure that senior members of his administration do the same; and he has betrayed the trust of the American people.

With a heavy heart and in the deepest spirit of patriotism, I exercise my duty and responsibility to speak truthfully about what is before us. To shy away from this responsibility would be easier. But I have not been one to travel the easy road. I believe in this country, and in the power of our democracy. I feel the steely conviction of one who will not let the country I love descend into shame; for the fabric of our democracy is at stake.

Some will call this a partisan vendetta, others will say this is an unimportant distraction to the plans of the incoming Congress. But this is not about political gamesmanship.

I am not willing to put any political party before my principles.

This, instead, is about beginning the long road back to regaining the high standards of truth and democracy upon which our great country was founded.

Mr. Speaker:

Under the standards set by the United States Constitution, President Bush, along with Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of State Rice, should be subject to the process of impeachment, and I have filed H. Res.1106 in the House of Representatives.

To my fellow Americans, as I leave this Congress, it is in your hands to hold your representatives accountable, and to show those with the courage to stand for what is right, that they do not stand alone.

Thank you.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. She did it on the LAST DAY that Congress was in session

She was obviously very serious about this.

[orleans]

5. i thought she did. i thought she had articles of impeachment drawn up? n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. She did, on the last day that Congress was in session

Perhaps some Democrat in Congress will wait until the last day they are in session and introduce similar legislation.

[orleans]

12. oh what a nice thought. do you remember some speech mckinney

made regarding 9/11, where she basically implicated bush? i remember hearing it (streaming on the computer--i don't know if malloy was playing it??? or when it took place but it was wowing!) i don't remember where she was when she gave it either. but i'd love to hear it again.

does that ring a bell? if you know what i'm referring to let me know so i can try to track it down and hear it again--for fun. thanks.

[Wizard777]

26. She still has Floor priviledges liek Skank Harris. If she can get in. n/t

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Maybe if she didn't continually disgrace herself,

she'd be there to do something about it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. How True And Well Said.

[donsu]

9. please explain what you mean by 'disgrace herself'

and don't include her having an argument with a cop

I've had arguments with cops, that's not a disgrace.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. We're not having this argument again, Donsu.

You know what I mean. It is well-documented. I am not continuing any further.

[donsu]

11. please provide links to the well documented 'disgraces"

nt

[rman]

45. the argument is far from over -

it certainly is not over just because you say it is.

McKinney disgraced herself only if you believe the RW spin about what took place.


Capitol Hill Police Officers Speak Out!

McKinney-Capitol Police incident part of systemic racism of Capitol Police force says African American officers

http://gnn.tv/videos/63/The_Last_Plantation

...
“I know the black members are disrespected, I’ve seen instances where black members are disrespected,” said one officer in the video. “They’ll do things to black Members that they don’t do to white Members.”

Another officer in the video recalls white U.S. Capitol Officers actually preparing to confront African American Members of Congress.

“I’ve heard them say, ‘Well when certain members come through here, in particular Cynthia McKinney, she ain’t just gonna run up these steps. I’m gonna stop her,” said the officer. “It’s almost like they be waiting … want confrontation.”
...

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

52. Considering she's no longer in office, the issue is moot.

Argument over. Voters decided. She lost. End of subject.

[rman]

60. There's always tomorrow

Voters have 'decided' before about McKinney, only to decide differently later on.

I understand you very much want this to be over with, but it's far from over.

[malaise]

13. Cynthia was targeted and set up by

the usual suspects.

[Rosemary2205]

15. More like she had a knack for attracting negative PR.

I know there are a lot of DUer's who view McKinney as a victim of racism, but most of her political problems she brought on herself. Sometimes deliberately to get into the media spotlight. A woman who chooses to say on camera that Bush's family orchestrated 9/11 at a time when the President is enjoying a 90% approval rating should expect to get slammed.

Then there was the whole incident with the capitol police where the cop was accused of being a racist pig who thinks all dem darkies look alike. Well, that didn't play at home as well as she though it would.

And there was the on a live mic trashing of someone in her own staff and her coming back on camera and dictating to the media what they can and cannot report on. That didn't sit too well back home either.

And of course her nation of islam body guards who beat up a reporter the day she lost the primary.


Rightly or wrongly, her district decided they wanted someone less controversial. Less flamboyant. Less likely to embarrass them. Many, MANY of her own constiuents though of McKinney as a disgrace rather than a fighter. In the last 2 years of her congressional record, she accomplished almost nothing for the nation or for her district. SHE claims this is because of the inherent racism against black women that exists in the Congress itself. Her district was not convinced.

[Karenina]

29. Yada, yada, yada.

How 'bout that Tawana, eh? Wonder if she still lives in Hymietown.

Guess what I just heard!!! Osama Hussein Barracks is a Halfrican! I KNEW IT!!!

[Swamp Rat]

31. LOL!

[Karenina]

33. Naaa, Duuuu!!!

Geht's Dir gut? Zur Zeit bin ich ehrlich fix und fertig. Schalter AUS! EINFACH! ;-)

[Rosemary2205]

53. I have no clue how any of that relates to McKinney

There's no denying there is still institutionalized racism in this country. To say ALL of Cynthia's problems with a poor media image and with her district are the result of rampant racism just shows a blind spot regarding who McKinney is and how her district feels about her -- a district that elects a majority of blacks for all elective positions, many of them women.

[Karenina]

59. I DO understand that you have no clue.

And I also UNDERSTAND how a personality such as hers would offend your sensibilities.

[Buzz Clik]

6. Bleh. She's not even at the table. How would she know?

[file83]

14. Talk about people shooting the messenger around here...

Even though we all agree that Bush should be impeached, everyone beats up the messenger, Cynthia.

Wow.
:eyes:

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[file83]

18. Very well put Karenina.

The bigotry you speak of, that we are witnessing here in this thread is transparent.

You know it's bigotry when people look past there disgust in Bush to attack Cynthia. What else could explain it?

[cynatnite]

22. Why is it bigotry when someone says they don't like her? n/t

[rinsd]

19. Yup its sexism and racism directed at an anti-semtite.

Covers all the bases!

[Karenina]

20. It's SOOO disingenuous to label her so.

You might have a case with her father. Should SHE be judged by an old man's prejudices??? How many here on DU regularly weigh in about their family members and their repugnant views? You ALL expect that even though your entire families are unrepentant racists that YOU be taken at your word that YOU are not. But somehow you are hard-pressed to extend that same courtesy to Cynthia who has stuck her neck out on NUMEROUS OCCASIONS when NO ONE ELSE WOULD to represent your REAL interests. Perhaps it's her view that Palestinians are, in fact, human beings and must be regarded as something more than lice is enough to garner the "Anti-Semite TM" label. :shrug:

[rinsd]

21. One shouldn't be judged by the sins of the father

But usually the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And given that her entourage sceaming about Jews during her loss to Hank Johnson and she issued a half assed apology for it (which I am guessing she would have denied it if it hadn't been on video). Oh and there's also her supporters feeling free to call Denise Majette and Hank Johnson racial slurs.

McKinney was about the cult of McKinney. She'll be back though.

[Karenina]

23. I tell you what.

Your "apple" analogy might have served you well back in 2000.

[rinsd]

24. No way! * ain't half the man his father was.

And considering how low that bar was, well you get my drift.

[Karenina]

27. Visuals...

[michaelwb]

48. Not quite the case..

"You might have a case with her father. Should SHE be judged by an old man's prejudices??? How many here on DU regularly weigh in about their family members and their repugnant views?"

Little detail that is being missed here.

While I wouldn't hold someone responsible for their relatives' prejudices, I would hold a politician responsible if their campaign manager makes racist remarks during the campaign.

And her father was her campaign manager when he made those anti-semitic remarks during an election campaign.

[rman]

49. Given that the slightest critisism of Israel

is interpreted by some loud voices as being anti-semitism, it remains to be seen just how anti-semitic those remarks were.

[michaelwb]

51. Not so much the case here.

Certainly an intemperate remark for a campaign manager to make during an election on camera to the press:

McKinney's father Billy McKinney, an Atlanta state representative, when asked just days before the primary to explain why she ran, claimed the endorsement of former U.S. congressman and ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young (who had endorsed her in earlier campaigns but declined to do so in 2002), and said in front of an Atlanta TV station camera: "That ain't nothin'. Jews have bought everybody. Jews. J. E. W. S."

- U.S. News & World Report 8/29/02

[Karenina]

54. She FIRED him, did she not?

:eyes:

[JackRiddler]

30. You said it!

She is a hero.

Here is a June 2002 page on her post-9/11 courage:
http://911truth.org/osamas/mckinney.html

It includes links to her Mar 2002 speech in which she was the first Congress critter to tackle Carlyle Group and many other issues implicating the Bush regime in 9/11.

Since then she's lost an election, chaired a 9/11 research conference, won an election, held the Congress's only honest hearings on 9/11 anomalies, and lost an election again.

And you know, whether or not she hit a cop with a cell phone in a moment of anger - it's not like she shot her best friend in the face, it is?

[petgoat]

44. Cynthia was also the one to get ChoicePoint to point at its

client, Katherine Harris, and reveal that she wanted a
real loosy goosy Florida felons list that would have
lots of errors in it to maximize the number of voters
disqualified.

[conscious evolution]

17. Typical behavior fromher haters

She got my vote in 92,94,96and 2002.
And I would vote for her again.

I have two Cindies who speak for me.

[Wizard777]

25. Go get 'em Cynthia!

[Raffi Ella]

28. .

:kick:

[mondo joe]

32. Cynthia may have missed the notice, but she lost her bid for re-election.

She doesn't have any say in the matter.

[Raster]

35. As a citizen she does. And as a prominent AND vocal member of the Black

political community, her words still have plenty of weight.
:kick:TEN!

[mondo joe]

36. Since she couldn't even convince her constituents that she should be sent

back, it's unlikely that she'll convince those who actually won their races.

[Raster]

37. I don't think she needs to do much convincing.

I'll wager Ms. McKinney's political life is not over yet.

[mondo joe]

38. On that we can agree.

And yet she is extremely unlikely to hold any office that will give her a say in this matter.

[Raster]

42. within the next few years? probably so. Doesn't matter. She's already fired

her parting shot. Cheap political theatrics? Absolutely, but oh the mileage.

[Brewman_Jax]

46. Try watching "American Blackout"

you might learn something, but it's more fun being "oppressed".

[JackRiddler]

50. By your own logic

Unless you hold a seat in the Congress, you should shut up.

[mondo joe]

56. Not at all.

We can all say anything we like.

The only people, however, who can say with any authority what is "on the table" are those elected to do so.

[oasis]

39. "If it's Sunday, It's Meet the Press"...If it's a McKinney thread, it's "Meet Mondo Joe"

Count on it. ;-)

[petgoat]

43. Couldn't convince her constituents? Oh, horseshit. Cynthia was

sunk by last-minute out-of-state money.

Not to mention Diebold.

[theboss]

55. As a crazy person, she's ignored

And so forth...

[Karenina]

58. Those who recognize her bravery

really don't care when racists ignore her. Would that they actually did so.

[Canuckistanian]

34. Wait a minute - "tabled"... doesn't that mean canceled?

It has the opposite meaning here in Canada. If something is 'tabled' that means it's up for discussion.

But down there it has the opposite meaning.

Please enlighten.

[ComeAndTakeIt]

40. between this and Rosie

I'm starting to think it may actually happen

I bet Georgie is shivering in his little, fake boots

[dailykoff]

41. Thank you Cynthia McKinney!

K/R :thumbsup:

[cool user name]

47. You goddamned right, it is. Way to tell it, Cynthia!

:yourock:

[happydreams]

57. For those who disparage McKinney...

You must remember that she was the victim of one of the most vicious and systematic political attacks in history. It should go down as one of the worst, primarily because she was attacked for doing the very thing she was hired to do: inform the public about government corruption and take action.

In this case she sought to expose the Carlyle Group's Crusader Missile scandal. A missile system that the Pentagon said it could not use and did not want, but the Carlyle Group continued to shove it through Congress with alot of help from Rumsfeld. When McKinney refused to keep her mouth shut they pulled one of the worst political stunts in history. She was running for anothe term and suddenly a whole lot of Rethugs in her district switched parties in the primaries and voted for her democratic opponent. Her opponent won.

One wonders how many other democrats have gone down to defeat via similar tactics.